Start off the new year by dumpingÂ all those mid-2000s swoopy-haired boysÂ and cozying upÂ with your newest pop punk favs, DUMP HIM. The Northampton queercore band led by songwriter and guitarist Jac Walsh, joined on the recordings by two champions of the Boston DIY scene, Larz Brogan (DĂ¦phne) on drums and ZoĂ« Wyner (halfsour) on bass, released their mini albumÂ Venus In Gemini last spring.Â Each track is a tightly executed burstÂ of powerpopÂ at its purest, a deceivingly upbeat foundation forÂ facing emotional and societal adversity, but appropriate as Walsh confronts each with a crisp confidence in their voice. Itâ€™s the ability to dig beneathÂ a superficial side of sorrowÂ and analyze deeply personal, interpersonal, and community-wide issuesâ€”even criticizingÂ said communityÂ when necessaryâ€”that sets DUMP HIM apart from the more typical brand of youthful angst in music.

The first batch of tapes went quickly, so expect the upcoming second pressing fromÂ Disposable America to do the same.